Sungjae Im Stumbles with 3 Over Par "Regrets on 9th Hole"... Bradley Leads for Third Day

Valspar Championship Day 3: Burns Tied for Lead, Thomas Tied 18th, 'Number 1' Johnson Faces Tough Road at Tied 60th

Im Sung-jae is teeing off at the 7th hole on the third day of the Valspar Championship. Palm Harbor, Florida, USA = Getty Images / MultiBits

[Asia Economy Golf Specialist Reporter Kim Hyun-jun] Im Sung-jae (23, CJ Logistics) faltered with a 3-over par.

On the 2nd (Korean time) at Innisbrook Golf Club in Palm Harbor, Florida, USA (par 71, 7,340 yards), he dropped to a tie for 28th place (4-under 209) on the third day of the PGA Tour Valspar Championship (total prize money $6.9 million). Keegan Bradley and Sam Burns (both from the USA) share the lead (14-under 199), while Genesis Invitational champion Max Homa (USA) is tied for 3rd place (13-under 200), one stroke behind, aiming for his second victory.

Im Sung-jae started tied for 6th but suffered a critical blow with 3 birdies, 4 bogeys, and a double bogey on the 9th hole (par 4). After gaining momentum with 'stepping stone birdies' on holes 1 and 3, he made consecutive bogeys on holes 6 and 8, and his tee shot landed in a bunker on the 9th hole. Following a birdie on the back nine 11th hole (par 5) and a bogey on the 12th hole (par 4), he made another '3-putt bogey' on the 17th hole (par 3). His average putts per hole were 1.91, struggling particularly on the greens.

World No. 2 Justin Thomas rose to a tie for 18th place (6-under 207), while No. 1 Dustin Johnson (both USA) is struggling at a tie for 60th place (even par 213). He made 2 birdies and 1 bogey but suffered two double bogeys in the crucial stretch from holes 16 to 18, known as the 'Snake Pit.' Defending champion Paul Casey (England) is tied for 47th place (2-under 211), and Korea's Lee Kyung-hoon (30) joined the tie for 18th. An Byeong-hun (30, CJ Logistics) finished tied for 56th place (1-under 212).

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